To Florus 2.223
He says that we died to sin at the time when, to receive the gift of forgiveness, we professed our renunciation of the world and all sins. Remembering the gift, we should therefore live in a way that shows we have been buried with Christ and visibly bear his resurrection in holiness. Just as, after rising from the dead, he undergoes no bodily weakness or scourging, so we too should strive to be invulnerable to all sins and vices. ‘For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also share his resurrection, knowing that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, so that we no longer serve sin. For the one who has died has been justified from sin’ (Romans 6:5–7). He binds believers with clear reasoning. If you wish, he says, to share his resurrection, imitate the power of his death too, so that, dead to vices, you may live in virtue. You will share that happiness if you bear the image of his death by dying to sins. Our old self should be shown nailed to his cross, to destroy the body of sin through the courage of suffering. By ‘body of sin,’ according to his customary usage, Paul means vices, not the substance of flesh. For he continues: ‘So that the body of sin might be destroyed, so that we no longer serve sin. For the one who has died has been justified from sin.’
Latin
Dicit nos mortuos esse peccato eo iam tempore, quo, ut acciperemus indulgentiae donum, renuntiare nos mundo omnibusque peccatis professi sumus, atque ideo muneris memores debere sic vivere, ut Christo consepulti esse doceamur atque resurrectionem eius conspicua sanctitate gestemus et, quomodo ille, postquam resurrexit a mortuis, nullas infirmitates corporis, nulla flagella perpetitur, ita etiam et nos esse invulnerabiles peccatis omnibus et vitiis annitamur. Si enim complantati sumus similitudini mortis eius, simul et resurrectionis erimus hoc scientes, quoniam vetus homo noster simul confixus est cruci, ut destruatur corpus peccati, ut ultra non serviamus peccato; qui enim mortuus est, iustificatus est a peccato [n374] . Clara fideles ratione constringit; si vultis, inquit, resurrectionis eius fieri participes, virtutem quoque mortis imitamini, ut mortui vitiis in virtute vivatis; tunc enim eritis in illa felicitate consortes, si mortis eius imaginem tuleritis moriendo peccatis; vetus enim homo noster debet cruci eius affixus doceri, ut destruat corpus peccati fortitudine videlicet passionis. Corpus autem peccati consuetudine sua Paulus vitia, non substantiam carnis appellat; sic enim sequitur: Ut destruatur corpus peccati, ut ultra non serviamus peccato; qui enim mortuus est, iustificatus est a peccato.
About this text
Julian’s six preserved books to Florus, quoted section by section in Augustine’s unfinished reply. Augustine’s refutations are omitted. Latin of Julian’s words is on each section.
Julian’s own books do not survive as a separate manuscript. English follows his words as Augustine quotes them in the Unfinished Work Against Julian. Augustine’s replies are omitted. We do not restore a Julian text independent of Augustine.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Augustine, Unfinished Work Against Julian (Latin · Julian’s words as quoted, Books 1–6)
- Checked print Augustinus.it Latin of the Unfinished Work (Latin · Same work)
- Checked print Migne PL 45 (Latin · Hard cases)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.